Going forward, the terrain became higher. When the water upstream hit the rocks, the clear sound reached Li Huixi's ears. Qin Ling's footsteps suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
Li Huixi saw that Qin Ling was not in the right state, so she stopped and asked briefly.
Qin Ling's body suddenly froze, she lowered her arms very slowly, lifted her pants up a little, and exposed her legs.
Although it was dark night, with the blessing of the third eye, both Li Huixi and the fox could clearly see that Qin Ling's legs also showed signs of woodiness, which indicated that the source of the curse was nearby.
Qin Ling closed her eyes, including the third eye on her forehead, and concentrated on feeling the source of the curse.
Finally, Qin Ling suddenly opened his eyes, pointed at the darkness in the distance, and whispered:
"That's it."
Li Huixi picked up Qin Ling, who was unable to move, and ran quickly in the direction she pointed, while the fox carried the half-timbered Duan Jiang. There was an inexplicable injustice in his heart, but it only passed by in a flash.
Running in the direction Qin Ling sensed, the road in the middle was blocked by green plants and it was difficult to walk. He could only open a narrow aisle. The branches scratched the clothes of Li Huixi and Qin Ling. Fortunately, Qin Ling was intentional. The ground is controlling something, these plants just cut some pieces of cloth and don't touch the skin.
The further they walked in, the more clearly they could hear the sound of running water. Finally, when they reached the end, they saw an open water source in front of them. Judging from the geographical location, this should be the water source that the villagers here drink directly or use as domestic water.
Li Huixi just squatted down to see the water quality here, but his hand that was about to touch the water was controlled by Qin Ling, and he could not move forward at all.
Li Huixi understood immediately, and Qin Ling also explained in time:
"This curse comes from this water, so it's not that people who come into contact with the wood will be infected with the curse, but the water vapor here will penetrate the skin and enter the blood, and eventually everyone here will be cursed."
Fox immediately discovered the blind spot and said her first words since the beginning of the mission:
"How come the survivors didn't show symptoms in time, but waited more than ten years before they died."
"I think this is because everyone's body constitution is different, and the molecular weight of water they consume is different, so the time when symptoms appear will also be different."
But the root of the problem has been found, how to eliminate this curse?
Li Huixi turned her eyes and looked at the vibrant aquatic plants around her, and pulled out one.
Qin Ling was about to stop her when she saw this, but it was too late. She didn't expect that Li Huixi, a very cautious person in words and deeds, would make such a stupid mistake. Sure enough, a curse was born in her body, but the effect was still relatively weak.
But the next second, Li Huixi stuffed the leaf in her hand into her mouth. What Qin Ling didn't expect was that the weak curse on her body quickly disappeared without a trace.
Seeing Qin Ling's confused look, Li Huixi explained:
"Since your guess is correct, this curse is spread by water, and all the animals that depend on the water here have unfortunately become lumbered, then I guess the only life here that has not been affected should be these plants."
Qin Ling was reminded by Li Huixi and immediately understood her intention, so she added:
"Living near this cursed water source, but not afraid of the effects of the curse, I'm afraid these plants have ingredients that can resist this wood-turning curse. No wonder the old people in the family often say that there is an antidote to the poison within half a mile."
Li Huixi nodded, turned her head and looked at Duan Jiang on the fox's back expressionlessly, and then looked at the antidote in her hand.
"Are you going to save me or not?"
"This is my bargaining chip."
"Chips? What chips?"
"Remember? Qin Ling said that he has some connections within the federation, and I want to use this to get some useful information out."
"Him? He can know what's valuable."
"That's not necessarily the case. He can mobilize the helicopters in the federation at will, directly kill his teammates without taking any responsibility, and withdraw from the ongoing mission at will. This guy is really not necessarily just a simple employee."
"If something is dug up that shouldn't be known, are you going to get involved?"
"Then we'll see what comes out. Anyway, he's not dead yet. Let's talk about it when we get back."
Li Huixi's voice was interrupted by Qin Ling. She and the fox had picked enough water plants and were waiting for her next order.
"What are you waiting for? Go back."
After contacting the plane after the mission, before leaving, Li Huixi and Fox found the old woman who was neither human nor ghost outside the village.
Li Huixi looked at the abundant water plants on her side and thought about saving the old man who had become a human tree. However, he fed several water plants in succession, but it had no other effect except making the old lady wake up in panic.
"It's malfunctioning?"
Qin Ling looked at the water plant in his hand, a few drops of sweat appeared on his head, and asked with doubt.
The old woman saw the good intentions of a few people, so she used her wooden vocal cords to squeeze out a burst of words that could be understood by a few people:
"I am too old... My roots are buried in the soil, and I am absorbing nutrients from the water all the time. I have no chance to change back. If I can..."
The old woman coughed helplessly and couldn't continue talking, but her face, which was like a wooden sculpture and could hardly put on wrinkles, expressed her helplessness.
Li Huixi and Fox looked at each other,
"You must have had enough."
After Li Huixi finished speaking, the fox covered the old woman with her robe. Not long after, the old woman who had taken root here when she came only had a small piece of wood left in the fox's hand, which was the last part of the old woman's body. .
The sound of a helicopter filled his ears. After several people got on the plane, Li Huixi went to the cab to take a look.
She didn't expect that the helicopter would pilot automatically. Although she had seen strong winds and waves, Li Huixi still showed a hint of shock.
Qin Ling looked at Li Huixi and explained to her:
"Actually, this plane is not autonomous."
"What's the meaning?"
"Well... let's put it this way, each of the Federation's vehicles is controlled by a special system, but as far as I know it is not a technological means... it is also to prevent accidents to personnel outside the mission."
Although Qin Ling's words were very vague, Li Huixi and Hu Hu knew that the biggest problem no longer existed, and then Li Huixi's plan could be implemented perfectly.
At this point, Li Huixi's first mission has been successfully concluded. The only sacrifice was the middle-aged uncle. But Li Huixi, Fox, and Duan Jiang, who was half-timbered and fell into a coma, knew that this uncle could have been safe. Survived.
Before getting off the helicopter, Fox jumped directly with Duan Jiang. This scene shocked Qin Ling even more, and she became stuttering when she spoke:
"That person... took Duan Jiang with him, she... they..."
Li Huixi frowned and counted down quietly.
"Ten...nine...eight..."
Qin Ling was confused by Li Huixi's appearance again, and asked with a confused look:
"What are you counting?"
At this time, Li Huixi's countdown also found the last number. After that, Li Huixi snapped her fingers and asked:
"Is our mission over?"
Qin Ling seemed to have been suddenly taken away from her. She looked at Li Huixi in front of her in a daze, as if she didn't recognize her and didn't speak. She simply put on her headphones and continued listening to the song.
The fox came back at this time, and suddenly there was a bone spur in his hand. Without saying a word, it pierced Li Huixi's neck. As early as the end of the mission, Li Huixi began to think about how to make up a perfect one. Duan Jiang’s death certificate.
